Nissan Leaf Crossover Is Already A Thing Thanks To Japanese Tuners

The Nissan Leaf has been around since 2010 with both generations of the EV pioneer adopting a five-door hatchback bodystyle. The next generation is rumored to morph into a crossover, but a quick search online proved that there is already an adventurous Leaf out there courtesy of ESB, a tuning company based in Osaka, Japan.

The first thing you notice on the Leaf Crossover is the increased ground clearance thanks to a new set of springs that raise the car by 30 mm (1.2 inches) to a respectful 190 mm (7.5 inches), or more if you add beefier tires. The tuner chose a set of 17-inch steel wheels by CLS shod in General Grabber all-terrain tires. While limiting the electric car’s range and efficiency, they will provide greater traction off-road.

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For an SUV-like appearance, ESB added matte black plastic cladding on the wheelarches and the front and rear bumper, and blacked out the rear license plate holder. There is also a custom add-on to the front bumper with an integrated skid plate, plus side sill extensions that are probably only serving styling purposes.

For the finishing touch, the tuner added a roof rack for extra luggage or equipment, and a LED light bar for when it gets really dark. Those accessories will also have a toll on the range since they are adding unnecessary drag but this is the price you have to pay for rugged looks.

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There are no changes under the skin, with the first-gen Leaf retaining its stock electric powertrain. As a reminder, the model was available with a lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity between 24 kW and 30 kWh depending on the yea. The single electric motor produced 107 hp (80 kW / 109 PS) and 280 Nm of torque offering decent performance for its time.

Surprisingly, the visual modifications are quite affordable. More specifically, the front bumper add-on costs ¥ 32,000 ($281), the flaps on the side sills sell for ¥26,000 ($229), the raised suspension costs ¥32,000 ($281), and the rims cost ¥19,000 ($167) per piece or  ¥76,000 ($668) for the whole set. All prices are before taxes and for a complete look, you have to add the cost of the all-terrain tires and the roof rack.